This was a movie I did not want to see. First, I'm a bit squeamish, and, as expected, it's a graphic - I mean graphic! - depiction of the 127
hours real-life hiker Aron Ralston spent in an isolated Utah canyon with his arm irretrievably trapped by a boulder. Second, I couldn't imagine a linear retelling of those hours holding my attention. I mean, the dude's stuck, all by himself, and we know the ending already. (I know, I'm painfully unimaginative.) But, mainly, I didn't want to see it because I'd made a judgment about this man, that he was foolish and a bit selfish to head out to the wilds of Utah without telling any of his loved ones where he was going and then expect that they'd come to his
rescue. Well, I was very, very wrong on all counts - except for the graphic gross-out stuff. I guessed right that it would be hard to watch
at times...Did I mention the film is very, very graphic?

The story of Ralston (played beautifully by James Franco) isn't about a spoiled young man pouting because no one's coming to help him, blaming others for his actions. It's about a rather foolish young man who recognizes that he and he alone put himself in this position and that he and he alone is the only person who can get him out of it. And his fight to get free is BECAUSE he realizes how much he loves the people who love him. He understands that he could be causing them grief, and he feels bad about that.

Director Danny Boyle (the captian of last year's Best Pic Oscar winner, Slumdog Millionaire) apparently felt, too, that just telling the tale minute by minute wasn't the best idea, so he infused the story with some truly creative touches, elevating it beyond simply recounting the
events. I will say, however, that it was SO artistic, it got in the way of the storytelling just a bit, and I was confused a couple of times
with what was happening and who was who in Ralston's imaginings.

But, what a shock to discover that I was truly GLAD I saw a film I never thought I'd want to see! Franco is so honest and endearing. The story is riveting, even if you do know what happens in the end. And the creativity in the telling is worth seeing on its own. The only thing
I'll warn you about is that it is graphic...Did I mention that it's graphic?...Maybe skip the popcorn for this one.